Spring 2025 Courses
Our current slate of courses available for Spring 2025 Dornsife in DC Program.
IR 443: Foreign Policy
Critical discussion of alternative approaches explaining the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy: domestic politics, organizational processes, group dynamics, individual personality and perception.
Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Fields
SCDC 441: National Security Decision Making
Examines U.S. decision making and current and future complexities of a rapidly evolving national and international security environment.
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Peek
SCDC 435: How Washington Works
Provides students with a DC insider’s understanding of American politics, campaigning and elections.
Instructor: Mr. Chuck Todd
POSC 335: Political Parties, Campaigns, & Elections
Organization and function of political parties, nominations and elections, strategy and tactics of campaigning, professional candidate management finance, political machines, voting behavior.
Instructor: TBD
SCDC 499: Politics and International Relations through Film
An analysis and discussion of how film functions as a political medium to influence and inform partisan perspectives among audiences.
Instructor: TBD
Past Course Offerings
Course offerings change from to year. We’ve highlighted some of our courses we have previously offered at USC Dornsife Washington DC semester program.
IR 443: U.S. Foreign Policy Analysis
Explaining the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy: domestic politics, organizational processes, group dynamics, individual personality and perception. Students explore the structure of the U.S. foreign policy machine, presidential decision-making and the role of Congress.IR 464: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
This course responds to the following questions: How has US foreign policy toward the Middle East evolved over time? What role has the US played in shaping history in the Arab-Islamic world? Ultimately, students will reflect on continuity and change in US foreign policy toward this key region.SCDC 441: National Security Decision Making
Taught by former senior director for Eurasia at the National Security Council, this course deals with current and future complexities of a rapidly evolving national and international security environment. A key component of the class includes several analytic memos that students write and a role-playing NSC meeting simulations conducted thereafter.SCDC 435: Washington Behind Closed Doors
This course seeks to provide students with a genuine understanding of American elections, political communication, and the intersection of politics, policy and the press. From writing legislation to crafting a message, from social media to traditional media, students will see up close and firsthand the specific skills and techniques utilized by those who run and influence Washington.POSC 410: Producing History
An analysis of political content of mass media. Audience response to alternative sources of political information. Consideration of the institutional and economic as well as political aspects of the mass media.ENST 499: Energy, Environment, and National Security
This course provides a broad introduction to some of the policymaking frameworks and levers that influence the ways in which society manages its conduct with respect to energy and the environment through the lens of national security and economics.Live, study, and learn among the nation’s leaders.
Prepare for your success after graduation with immersive experiences throughout our Washington DC semester.
As a part of USC Dornsife Washington DC, you’ll benefit from our wide network of fellow Trojans across the nation’s capital. Gain firsthand experience learning and working with members of government, think tanks, NGOs, and non-profit organizations to set yourself ahead for your future endeavors.
“The value of the professors here at the Dornsife DC Program is that they’ve all spent time in this town, and they all have connections in this town.”